Global Bio-India 2024: A Showcase of India’s Biotechnology Leadership and Innovation

Introduction

• The fourth edition of Global Bio-India 2024, one of India’s leading Biotechnology showcases came to a successful completion on September.
• Jointly sponsored by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) it was held at Pragati Maidan New Delhi with knowledge partners Accenture being ‘Big SHE – Connect 2016’ that had got thousands of innovators, entrepreneurs, researchers and policymakers in a single platform from different parts of the world.
• It was spread across three days September 12-14 and organised many sessions, exhibitions and discussions that focused on the growth of biotechnological industry in India.
• The event provided a valuable opportunity for presenting the capabilities and future prospects of India in the sphere of biotechnology, which is yet another confirmation of the country’s desire to become one of the key leaders in the sphere of biotechnology.
• Several new products were launched this year itself by Indian biotech startups and some strategic alliances to fuel the industry growth were also made.

Event Overview: Global Bio-India 2024

• Global Bio-India 2024 was jointly launched through inauguration by the Hon’ble Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State for Science & Technology.
• In his keynote speech, Dr Singh underlined the Indian government’s commitment to the development of biotechnology and innovation as being key enablers for the economic growth for India.
• He stressed the fact that biotech industry has a significant role to offer in solving global problems concerning health care, food production, and environment.
• A large variety of people, both Indian and international, attended this event to provide information on their company’s, research establishments and government bodies, and investors, involved in Biotechnology.
• Three days in detail allowed consequent discussions of advancement in biotechnology, demonstration of innovative technologies and products, as well as meetings with leading professionals.
• Global Bio-India 2024 has had more than 500 showcasing organizations and the event has attracted over 20,000 delegates hence being one of the biggest tradeshows for biotech industry across the globe.
• The event’s turn out proved that there is global appetite for India as a biotech hub and its readiness to lead in innovation and bio-manufacturing.

Themes and Highlights: Innovation and Bio-manufacturing

• The theme of Global Bio-India 2024 revolved around ‘Biotech Innovation’ and ‘Bio-manufacturing’ Since these are two issues that are most relevant to the emerging bio-tech industry in the India.
• It will be critical to differentiate between the biotechnology as the creation of technology and products to address global needs and bio-production as the process of producing and commercializing the technologies and products in industrial levels.
• It was also the showcase of 11 newly developed biotech products, all from Indian startups which was one of the significant highlights of the event.
• These products ranged across healthcare, agriculture as well as protection of the environment and showed the burgeoning talent and innovation within the India Biotech Startup sector.
• Technical solutions that range from future-shaping medical technologies to advancing sustainable agriculture are all conveyed through these products on how the Indian biotech industry can foster positive change across the world.
• It also emphasized creating partnerships between administrators and government and industrial and biotechnology industries to advance biotech solutions.
• The government was determined to fostering more links between academic institutions and the biotech industry through the i4 (Innovation for Industry) initiative as well as through the PACE (Promoting Academic Collaboration and Entrepreneurship) program that had been launched at the same time.
• All these efforts have been intended to foster technology transfer, encourage innovation, and actualize translation of research findings from lab to market.

Awards and Recognitions: Honoring Excellence in Biotechnology

• On this occasion Global Bio-India 2024 awarded those people/teams/organizations who have contributed to the growth of the biotech segment recently.
• There are several awards for innovation and excellence in biotechnology in the event and a number of these were presented.

Key awards included:

• BIRAC Innovators Awards: These awards recognized the efforts of people and companies which pursued biotech researches and experiments with vision of inspiration and novelty.
• Best Startup Exhibitor Awards: Given to startups that showcased groundbreaking products and solutions during the event, this award highlighted the best of India’s emerging biotech talent.
• Best Incubator Exhibitor Awards: This award was awarded to incubators in biotechnology that have had key supporting parts of the biotechnology startups.
• BioE3 Competition Awards: Specifically designed to help develop the biotechnology industry, this contest awarded the companies with potentially revolutionary ideas.
• They also acknowledged the need to encourage the spirit of innovation and enterprise for growth of biotech business and enabled new players in this sector to be celebrated for their effort.

Government Initiatives: Paving the Way for Future Growth

• Though the exact figures of investments were not announced during the event of Global Bio-India 2024, one of the major outcome of the conference was the government’s increased intent for supporting the biotech industry through the new policies and propositions.
• Introduction of the i4 (Innovation for Industry) program and the PACE (Promoting Academic Collaboration and Entrepreneurship) was a major strategic move that was meant to encourage Industry academy partnership.
• The i4 program is intended to help create new product lines within the biotech sector by pushing the creation of new technologies and products that can be manufactured on mass.
• While the PACE program seeks to initiate partnerships between academic institutions and biotech businesses, as a means of translating research technologies into actual products and services.
• Also during the event, number of key partnerships that were signed out, such as one between CIFF and IPE Global that will finance projects that will support biotech industry growth in India.
• Such collaborations are supposed to become strategic for the further development and advancement of the biotechnology area in the future.

Keynotes and Insights: Visionary Perspectives

• Keynote speakers who gave their speeches during the event come up with good information regarding the future of biotechnology in India and across the globe.
• Some of the distinguished speakers include the president of IIT Delhi Prof V Ramgopal Rao who called for the setting up of Organisations such as BIRAC for other emerging frontiers of technology like nanotech and quantum tech.
• Prof. Rao also paid tribute to the late Dr. M.K. Bhan, a visionary in India’s biotech sector, acknowledging his contributions to the growth and success of the industry.
• Dr. Bhan played a key role in shaping India’s biotechnology landscape and inspiring a new generation of innovators and entrepreneurs.
• At the event’s closing ceremony, Dr. Rajesh S Gokhale, Secretary of DBT, and Ms. Shilpy Kochhar, Joint Secretary at DBT, expressed their gratitude to all participants, partners, and organizers for their contributions to the event’s success.
• They emphasized the importance of continuing to support innovation and collaboration in biotechnology to ensure that India remains at the forefront of global advancements in the field.

Global Bio-India 2024: Building a Biotech Future

• Global Bio-India 2024 reinforced India’s position as a leading player in the global biotechnology industry.
• With a focus on innovation, bio-manufacturing, and collaboration, the event provided a roadmap for advancing the biotech sector and contributing to the growth of India’s Bioeconomy.
• The event showcased India’s biotech potential across various sectors, including healthcare, agriculture, and environmental sustainability, and highlighted the importance of continued investment in research and development.
• As India continues to strengthen its position in the global biotech arena, events like Global Bio-India will play a crucial role in fostering partnerships, driving innovation, and shaping the future of the industry.

FAQS

Q1: What is Global Bio-India 2024?

Ans: Global Bio-India 2024 is the fourth edition of one of India’s premier biotechnology events. It took place from September 12-14, 2024, at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, showcasing India’s advancements in biotechnology, innovation, and bio-manufacturing.

Q2: Who organized Global Bio-India 2024?

Ans: The event was organized by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC).

Q3: What was the theme of this year’s event?

Ans: The theme for 2024 was “Biotech Innovation” and “Bio-manufacturing,” focusing on the importance of innovation and production in the biotech sector to drive India’s Bioeconomy.